Did some time on the Sunderland and don't recall it being toooo hard to handle. It was 'heavy' on the controls, but no more than one would expect on such a vintage machine. Certainly it was no real problem for a 10 stone, 6' tall, hair on fire, bullet proof pilot officer. Had a good crawl through one of 205's Shackeltons at Changi, but never got a chance to have a fly.
Cheers